By Honorary Reporter Marianna Szucs from Hungary
Photo = Marianna Szucs

Kimchi is a daily staple in Korea. Many Koreans when posing for photos might say "Kimchi" instead of "Cheese," strong proof of how kimchi is purely Korean. 

Another saying has it that if your mouth starts to water simply by looking at kimchi, you are really Korean. Yet because of the side dish's growing popularity worldwide, this saying is also applicable to many abroad.

The following are two Korean proverbs that beautifully illustrate the role of kimchi in the everyday lives of Koreans.

The first saying goes "Don't drink kimchi soup thinking that someone will give you rice cake." This proverb is the Korean equivalent of "Don't count your chickens before they hatch." Rice cake is traditionally served with kimchi soup to avoid choking and help digestion, thus when eating kimchi soup, rice cake is expected next. 

This Korean proverb mentioning kimchi basically warns against making baseless assumptions. (Marianna Szucs)

The second is a favorite of mine since I love this type of kimchi: "I've become green onion kimchi." When someone is exhausted and lies on a sofa with no energy, he or she might look like spring onion kimchi that has lost its firm texture due to fermentation. Perhaps eating more of this kimchi could boost one's immune system.

"Becoming green onion kimchi" means that one is exhausted. (Marianna Szucs)

enny0611@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.